| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Baathists Allowed Back Into Iraq Government/Military |
| 2004-04-22 |
| The White House confirmed Thursday that the administration is moving to change a postwar policy that blocked members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from Iraqi government and military positions. The sweeping ban was put in place by civilian administrator Paul Bremer, but he now wants to change the policy as part of an effort to convince Sunnis, who dominate the party, that they are welcome members of the postwar political transition in Iraq. There also have been complaints that the ban has kept teachers, engineers, well-trained technocrats and experienced military officers out of the difficult postwar transition. In Baghdad, Coalition Provisional Authority spokesman Dan Senor acknowledged the ban "sometimes excludes innocent, capable people who were Baathists in name only from playing a role in reconstructing Iraq. "Those are the sorts of people for which there was a process built in to allow exceptions, to allow appeals, but the exceptions and appeals process doesn't do anybody any good if it is not expeditious," Senor said. |
| Posted by:sludj |
| #7 You know, Gen. George Patton thought it was a good idea to put the Nazis back in positions of power (like policemen and town administrators). He took a lot of heat for it, but he wasn't dumb. Bremer may be borrowing from his playbook and also thinking along the lines of what Tibor said. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-04-23 8:24:19 AM |
| #6 This seems like an application of "Keep your friends close and your enemy closer." |
| Posted by: Tibor 2004-04-22 11:11:36 PM |
| #5 This experiment will be interesting. One thing that should be discarded is the comparison to the Nazis - they were Germans. Well educated, competent, and children of the West - social ideology did not negatively impact these facts. Except for the very top level of the Nazi hierarchy, few kept positions solely because of their ideological purity. Sure, there were a few exceptions, but only a few. The trains running on time was a helluvalot more important than ass-kissing to the Nazi leadership -- because they really believed in their ideology and didn't need to be bribed to be loyal. Nazi officials were already well-kept - so competence in their charges was more valuable. The Soviets never figured this out and were simply corrupt thugs and sycophants, none of them believed in their so-called ideology. Sunni Iraqis are a different animal entirely. Tribalism, family status, reliability -- these are infinitely more important in the Arab world than mere competence. The "leadership" may be better trained, certainly it was in Saddam's interest that they have some grasp of their jobs, but they do not match up to the Nazis in any worthwhile way. Any salutory effect is likely to be based on those old Arab motivation "values": family, tribe, sect. Some effect is possible. Dramatic effects, not a chance. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-04-22 10:19:14 PM |
| #4 This makes about as much sense as allowing Nazis back into the postwar German government and Bundeswehr. Hey, the Nazis built our space program so we could put the Soviets in their place with ICBMs and moonwalks. Maybe the Sunnis can make themselves of use. Something tells me they'll be under one helluva magnifying glass as things go forward. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-22 6:23:49 PM |
| #3 The sweeping ban was put in place by civilian administrator Paul Bremer, but he now wants to change the policy as part of an effort to convince Sunnis, who dominate the party, that they are welcome members of the postwar political transition in Iraq. Memo to Sadr and other Shi'ites: Due to their cooperative stance, the Kurds are beginning to fill top spots in Iraq's new government. (Minority hiring policies at work.) Recruitment of Sunni resources has started as well. (Even Baathists are more welcome than Shiites.) Keep up the hostilities and your only role in the new Iraqi government will be as interns. (Only in the most Clintonesque sense though.) |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-22 6:20:21 PM |
| #2 I actually think this makes sense. Not all Baathists were Sadaam's raping henchmen, I'm sure those types won't be allowed to participate. The rest have been told to sit in the corner for a year, and are now being invited back in if they will play nice and know their place. No threat that they can dominate (given the Shia majority), but this may pacify the Sunnis a bit. It could be a win-win: reduce the agitation against the new government by allowing a potential group of agitators to participate in the government (rather than try to pull it apart), while at the same time putting their skills and experience to work against other groups of agitators. I could be wrong, but that is my take. |
| Posted by: sludj 2004-04-22 5:49:55 PM |
| #1 Baathist = Arab Nazi. This makes about as much sense as allowing Nazis back into the postwar German government and Bundeswehr. Maybe it really is time for Bremer to be replaced. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-04-22 5:42:16 PM |